Coverage of the October 2019 Women’s Session
Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor
Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Article Highlights
- A revision to the Young Women theme was announced.
- Instead of three classes, young women will be organized according to a ward’s specific needs.
- Class presidencies should be called for each class, and adult leaders should serve side-by-side with them.
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During the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday, October 5, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, the Young Women General President announced changes to that program.
“Tonight, I would like to announce a revision to the Young Women theme,” she said.
The new theme is as follows:
I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I strive to become like Him. I seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name.
I will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places.
As I strive to qualify for exaltation, I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day. With faith, I will strengthen my home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, and receive the ordinances and blessings of the holy temple.
Sister Cordon issued the invitation to “study and ponder these words. I know as you do, you will gain a testimony of their truthfulness.”
She also announced changes to Young Women classes.
“Beginning immediately, we invite Young Women leaders and bishops to prayerfully consider the needs of each young woman and organize them by age according to the ward’s specific circumstances,” Sister Cordon said.
Furthermore, the names of Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel will be retired, and all classes will be referred to as Young Women.
No matter how classes are organized, each class should have a class presidency, she added, the role and purpose of which has been strengthened. “It is by divine design that young women are called to lead in their youth,” she said.
“How I yearn for you to understand that the restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as a woman as it is to any man,” said President Russell M. Nelson in his remarks.
He then invited the women to “study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power.” He suggested beginning with Doctrine and Covenants sections 84 and 107, in addition to section 25.
“As your understanding increases and as you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available to you will increase,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of temple blessings.
“As the Church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life,” President Nelson said.
He announced eight new temples to be built in Freetown, Sierra Leone; Orem, Utah; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Bentonville, Arkansas; Bacolod, Philippines; McAllen, Texas; Coban, Guatemala; and Taylorsville, Utah.
Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
“As we have discussed here tonight, you sisters are vital to the work of the temple, and the temple is where you will receive your highest spiritual treasures.”
President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, First and Second Counselors in the First Presidency, and Sister Reyna Isabel Aburto of the Relief Society General Presidency and Sister Lisa Harkness of the Primary General Presidency, also spoke during the session.
Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary General President, conducted the meeting, with President Nelson presiding. Sister Salote Tukuafu, Primary general board member, and Sister Carol Costley, Young Women general board member, offered the invocation and benediction respectively.
Music was provided by a choir of Primary girls and young women from stakes in West Jordan, Utah. Kasey Bradbury directed with Linda Margetts at the organ.
President Russell M. Nelson, center, waves to conferencegoers before the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Mckinlei Drummond, red hat, takes notes while Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, not pictured, speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Women pack the Conference Center during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Kasey Bradbury, choir director, leads the audience in a hymn while a choir of Primary girls and young women from stakes in West Jordan sings behind her during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Women pack the Conference Center during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
A choir of Primary girls and young women from stakes in West Jordan perform during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Women listen as President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson, center, waves to conference-goers before the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
A group of women cross North Temple on their way to the Conference Center before the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Conferencegoers line up to enter the Conference Center before the general women's session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson, center, and his counselors in enter the Conference Center prior to the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Anna Whiteley, right, and her daughter Jade Whitely, 8, enjoy the waterfall before the general women's session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
Joana Taufanga, of Tonga, left, and Sarah Meyer, of Canada, take a selfie from the upper level of the Conference Center before the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. The duo met each other during an 18-month mission in Vanuatu, and this was their first chance to spend time together since their mission ended. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
President Russell M. Nelson shakes Carol Costley's hand at the end of the women's session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photo by Colter Peterson, Deseret News.
